Tungsten copper alloy (Copper Tungsten Alloy, CuW, or WCu) is a pseudo-alloy of copper and tungsten. As copper and tungsten are not mutually soluble, the material is composed of distinct particles of one metal dispersed in a matrix of the other one. The microstructure is therefore rather a metal matrix composite than a true alloy. Copper tungsten alloy is a sintered copper tungsten material, and it is always manufactured by powder metallurgy. It forms dense composite offering hardness, wear resistance and a high softening temperature of tungsten combined with the good electrical conductivity of copper.
Copper Tungsten Characteristics
Copper tungsten alloy commonly contains from 10 to 50 wt. % of copper, the remaining portionbeing substantially all tungsten. The typical properties of the alloy depend on its composition, which is of less wt.% of copper has higher density, higher hardness and higher resistivity. The typical density of CuW90 alloy, with 10% of copper tungsten is 16.75g/cm3 and 11.85g/cm3 for CuW50 alloy. CuW90 has higher hardness and resistivity of 260 HB kgf/mm2 and 6.5 µΩ.cm than CuW50.
Copper tungsten alloy combines the properties of both metals, resulting in a material that is heat-resistant, ablation-resistant, highly thermally and electrically conductive, and easy to machine. Parts are made from the WCu alloy by pressing the tungsten particles into a desired shape, sintering the compacted part, then infiltrating with molten copper. Sheets, rods and bars of the alloy are available as well.
Tungsten Copper Alloy Main Uses
Tungsten copper alloy is used when a product or part needs to have a high heat
resistance, low thermal expansion and high electrical or thermal conductivity.
It is used to make engines and electrical devices, and it is also used in the
fields of aviation and spaceflight. Electrodes, refractory parts, heat sinks,
rocket parts and electrical contacts are all made out of copper tungsten alloy.
It can be made into sheet metal, tubing and plate metal, which is used to make
contacts for both high and low voltage electrical devices, and for high speed
steel devices and switches.
Copper tungsten heat sink is used to conduct heat away from computer chips and
integrated circuits, preventing thermal damage. Depending on the electronic
device, heat sinks come in different sizes and shapes. Copper tungsten
composites, with copper content (by weight) of 15 to 20 percent, are often used
to make heat sinks.
Specifications of Tungsten Copper Alloy
| Code No. | Chemical Composition % | Tungsten Copper Alloy Mechanical Properties | ||||||
| Cu | Impurity | W | Density (g/cm3 ) | Hardness (HB ) | RES(cm) | Conductivity | TRS(Mpa) | |
| CuW(50) | 50+2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 11.85 | 115 | 3.2 | 54 IACS% | |
| CuW(55) | 45+ 2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 12.30 | 125 | 3.5 | 49 IACS% | |
| CuW(60) | 40+2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 12.75 | 140 | 3.7 | 47 IACS% | |
| CuW(65) | 35+2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 13.30 | 155 | 3.9 | 44 IACS% | |
| CuW(70) | 30+2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 13.80 | 175 | 4.1 | 42 IACS% | 790 |
| CuW(75) | 25+2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 14.50 | 195 | 4.5 | 38 IACS% | 885 |
| CuW(80) | 20+2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 15.15 | 220 | 5.0 | 34 IACS% | 980 |
| CuW(85) | 15+2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 15.90 | 240 | 5.7 | 30 IACS% | 1080 |
| CuW(90) | 10+2.0 | 0.5 | Balance | 16.75 | 260 | 6.5 | 27 IACS% | 1160 |
